Method and apparatus for stacking flat articles



Feb. 21, 1933. A. WlNKLER ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT ARTICLES Filed April 22, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l M. 1m w Feb. 21, 1933. A. WINKLER ET AL I 1,898,704

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT ARTICLES Filed April 22, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 surface ot-the last roller, the finalniovement they leave thelast ieedi-ng device.

Patented Feb. 2 1, 1933 PiAi-TEN .r omc mimnnf'wmxnmt amr mxx-nt'mnmrnmos nnuwmn, GER-MANY, 'ASSIGNOBS "ro BALTIMORE PAPER COMPANY? OF KANSAS I CITY, MISSOURI, A OQRJPOR ATION' OF.

MISSOURI METHODAND APPALRATUSFOR -*STAOKING FLAT "ARTICEES Application mease rngaz man-iserianno. 532,002, and in *Germany" April 22, [1980.

The subj ect matter of the; invention is a 1 method .and apparatus for; depositing and stacking the work pieces coming from a conmanufacturing envelopes and fiat ba syafter particular the invention. is suitable for :lnghoutput machines for making-,envelopes and vfiat bags; suchas those for example which operate on thelrotary principle'in such a manner that the fwork pieces 1 (envelopes orbags) are .iiediforwardsbet-ween rotating parts;

The diificulty which is govercomes by 4 the ip resent invention is that .the I worlgpieces coming at high speed from thei-a'stieeding dQY iCQiilDllSt be stacked on being transferred into state of-restfand that,h-aving; regard to? the high speed ofrevolution, theindividual parts whichweiiect this transfer can traverse .on 1 -'--qui tershort paths.

The method according to the invention consists in impartinga tension to -the ind-1- rid-ital work-pieces themselves on-1their way from thelast feeding device bybendingthem between; guidev members, so that this tension, at {tile moment when the work-piece -arrives in position:- at the -st-ack, effects, on the guide being-slightly raised, thesmovement of the work-piece behind the 1 guide, and thereby a gainstithe: stack.

Theeapparatus is: constructed in such a unanner-that the ovorkspiece from a lastirotating roller is condueted-to-the stack under onezorimore guide :lGVGIS while lying on the to the position in the stack being efi'ected Joy conveying; levers which are inlet in the final roller. lat-the moment when the Work-piece A constructional embodiment of an apparatus of this kind is-illustrated diagrammatically by way of. example: in the. accompanying drawings, in which Eig; l showsrthe genera-1 arrangement with levers,

small work-pieces entering below the guide i 'Fig. 2 isasirnilarview of the apparatus inQthe position in which the guide-lever is i swung away.and-therworkspiece. springs on to. the. stackbelow the guidev lever owing to its. own tension,

Kg. 3. is a part front elevation v of the last igJi iliustrat-esin side elevationthedriveiioo of the conveyor lever in. the. last .feed' roller. .Referring .to the drawings, the a last conveyor roller 1; consists of several separate .rollers 2: .between which in the axial direction interveningspaces 3 are'left freejforf outer end for the. purpose of actuating the'fl fingerswith allever 7, on Whichthereisa roller 8 which rolls on acurved track or cam '9. Byfittingany'suitable form of spring, whicl 1-is notillustrated in the drawings, the

lever? or itssroller'8 is continuously pressed againstthe. curved path 9.

'Thereare :also provided in the openings?) pressure members 5 which are for the purpose of pressing the: stack of paper. a" small distance; away from the roller 1 when 'the 30 neXt-work-piece enters. These parts 5 -.en-'

gage by'means ofprojections 10' in undercut V recesses inthe parts 2 and areheld in position on the periphery'byclamping screws-11 which clamp the parts between the shaft 12 which.v carries the individual parts '2 and the undercut recesses in the parts 2. Theseparts 5. are so constructed that they project. out gradually beyond thesurfaceof-the roller par s 2-. Theguide members13. which, with 9 theirrounded ends 1ft curved in conformity with the surface-of the, roller 1, on the one hand. serve thepurposeof a guide forthe entering sheet and, -on the otherhand, hold back thestack irom theirollerl by means (a a T9 downwardly proiectin'qpoint 15 are rigidly fixed to ashaft- 16 which" is revolublymountedrin any suitableinanner on the maohine frame. On one endrof-thisshaft 16there-i-s mounted a; lever 17, which. .is also /Iigidly fixed to the shaft 16, and is connected by means of a bolt 18 with a thrust-rod 19, the reciprocating movement of which is effected by means of a cam which is not illustrated and is mounted on the shaft 12 and rotates with the parts 2. By means of this movement of the rod 19 which is effected by the cam, the guides 13 are swung for a short -moment out of the position illustrated in Fig. 1 into the position illustrated in Fig. 2, when the work-piece has reached the base of the stack and its upper edge owing to the tension produced by the bending has to spring against the stack 20 after the removal of the guide 15. Then the guides 13, which may be made for example ofsheet steel, are again lowered into the position illustrated in Fig. 1 whereby the rear edge 15, which is adapted to fit the shape of the stack, holds the stack together with'the last work-piece which has been added. The pressure part 5 then comes simultaneously against the stack 20 and presses the stack slightly away from the roller 1 in order that the next arriving sheet may enter without difficulty and without any particular friction The parts 5 are always adjusted at the periphery of the'parts 2 by means of the screws 11 in such a manner that they press back the stack 20 just when the next sheet begins to enter.

The feeding of the work-pieces within the machine. is effected, for example, between rollers 1 and rubber rollers 21 which are spring-pressed against the rollers 1. As soon as the rear edge of the work-piece between the last pair of rollers 1, 21 is set free the further conveyance of the work-piece to the bottom of the stack is undertaken by the levers 4 which are pivoted between the rollers 2 and controlled by the cam guide 9 and which engage by means of projections t0 behind the rear edge of the work-piece and con- -vey the work-piece to the bottom of the stack. As soon as the bottom of the stack is reached the lever 1 is swung inwards (by means of the cam guide 9, lever 7 and shaft 6) in such a manner that the projection 40 no longer projects beyond the diameter'of the rollers 2. The levers 13 are simultaneously raised and the work-piece springs against the stack owing to its own tension.

A peculiarity of the present apparatus resides in the fact that the upper edge of the stack of work-pieces must always lie at the same height. table 22is swingably arranged, in accord- I ance with the invention, so that its position can be adapted to suit different, sizes of workpieces. The swinging of the stacking'table 22 can be effected for example about the axle 23 of the band pulley 2 1. It is assumed in this case that a gradually advancing belt 25 runsover thestacking table 22 and that this 'belt can be moved in manner known per se- Consequently thestacking from the last machine shaft 12 by means of the rod 26 and pawl 27 in such a manner that at each revolution of the shaft 1 the rod 26 makes a stroke (effected by means of a cam) whereby the ratchet wheel 28 which is connected to the belt pulley 24 is moved forwards by one tooth.

At the other endof the stacking plate 22 the counter pulley 29 is adj ustably j ournalled by means ofthe lever bearing 30. The adjustment of this can be effected by means of a hand-wheel 31 which is fast on the shaft 32. The bearing levers 30 are likewise fast on this shaft 32. The shaft 32 is movable in bearings arranged on the frame of the machine and can be fixed in any desired position by means of clamping screws 33 which are fitted in these bearings. In order to compensate for length the shaft 84 is, mounted adjustably in any suitable form of slide.

T 0 this stacking apparatus there can also be fitted, in manner known per se, a counting devicewhich at periodic intervals pushes, by meansof an ejector 35, the last delivered work-piece to one side of the stack, so that in this waycounting and the removal of an exact number of work-pieces from the stack can easily be effected. v

The method of operation of the machine" is as follows The front edge of each arriving WOIkpiece is introduced below the guide let into the triangular space formed by the surface of the roller 1 and the stack already formed;

the work-piece until its front edge reaches the belt 25. The projections 40 now recede below the surface of the roller, the guide 13 lifts and the backward lying edge of the work-piece, owing to its tension, comes to lie against the stack and behind the guide part 15 whichiminediately comes forward again.

It will beobvious that the rearward end of the sheet is first held down by the roller 21 even if it is no longer clamped between the rollers 21-and 12. The escape ofthe rear edge of the sheet is not possible up to the point X, the point where the limiting circle for the moving path of the member 10 intersects the periphery of the rollers 21. How-' ever, if the sheet has reached this point the tension is no longer sufficient to move it out of the limiting circle of the member 40 due to the fact that the rear end will be merely,

- djusted tangentially to the roller-12 rela tively tolthe-rnppermost: point of the contact with theiround'ed'" end. 14'. of..the=.member.- 18. It will, therefore; ibeinoted vthat the sheet is not released from the rollers when leaving the plane denoted: bythe 7' line yy, and is prevented by the rollers 21: from moving upwardly-to the-point The member 13 is designed as a disk shaped guide whichis pivotally mounted on the shaft 16 a in order to swing about thesame.

lVeclaim 1. In apparatus fol-arranging in a stack flat flexible articles continuously delivered by a feeding apparatus; means for tra-nsferring the articles insuccession from the feeding'apparatus to the stack, means-for simultaneously-bending the articles in su oh a mannor that, when the leading edge arrives in position, the trailing edge is bent awayfrom the stack and means for releasing the articles from the bending means so that the trailing edge; then springs into position owing to thetension produced by the bending. 2.-Apparatus for arranging in a stack fiat flexible articles continuously delivered by a feeding apparatus comprising a table on which the articles are stacked, guiding-means arranged in proximity to said table through which the articles are conveyed insuccession and which areadapted'to be in'engagement with :thetrailing edge of the article and bend it away fronnthe: stack when the leading edgearrives n posit-ioin means =for conveying the articles through said guiding means to the stack, and meansjforreleasing said guiding means from engagement. with the article when the leading edge arrives in position, so that the trailingedge springs into position against the preceding article in the stack owing to the iZGHSlOIl produced by thebending. I V

3. Apparatusfor arranging in; a stack fiat flexible articles continuously delivered by'ia feeding. apparatus comprising .a table "on which the articles are stacked, a curved guide arranged in proximity to the stack over which the articles are-conveyed insuccession, a movable guide arranged close to said curved guide and adapted to engage the articles passing over said curved guide and to be in engagement with and bend thetra-iling edge away from the stack when the leading edge has arrived in position, means for conveying the articles througl'r'said guides to the stacln and means forreleasing said movable guide'when the leading edge arrives in position, so that the trailingedge springs into position against the' precedingarticle owing to the tension'produced by the bending; V r V a. Apparatus for arranging in a stack .flat flexible articles continuouslydeliveredby a feeding apparatus comprising a table on which the. articlesare stacked; a revoluble roller arranged ii -proximity to th-e staclt over whichethe. article'sziare conveyedxinzisuccession, a movableiguide arrangedzclosesto position, means for conveying: the: articles between said roller and; 'uide.tozthe'rstack and means for: releasing said movable. guide from engagement with thetrailing edge of thev article when the leading edge arrives: 111

position, so that the trailing edge springs int-o :IJOSltlOI'l against the preceding .t-artlcle wing to the tension producedbythekbende ing. V v i v 4 5.." Apparatusffor arranging inastackflat fieizibleg articles continuously deli-veredby a feeding apparatus comprisingt-a table .on which thearticles are stacked, aa' revoluble roller arranged in proximity to the stack over which the articles are conveyed insuccession, ga correspondingly .curv'ed movable guide arranged close to said revoluble' roller and; adapted to engage; the articles passing over said revoluble :roller and .to bend the trailing edge awayirom the stack whensthe leading edge --has-arrived in position; means for conveying the I illtlClGS between sa1d:roller and guide tothe stackandnieansiior releasin said movable guide-when j the leading edge oi the'articlearr vesin positioinf' so that the trailing edge springs into position against the preceding article owing-V to*the tension produced by theib'endingl a 6. Apparatus for arranging in a-stack-fiat flexible articles continuously delivered by a feeding apparatus comprising a table on which the articles are stacked a revoluble roller arranged in proximity to the-stack over which the articles-are conveyed inzsuc 1 cession, a -movable guide having 13.11 edge which abuts aga nst: the stack and holds it away from ,the roller and a curvedv surtace .isaid re'voluble roller andtadaptedtOJengage the articles passing-over said .revoluble roller and to l'zend the trailing:edgeawaya-fromtthe stack :when the leading. -:e dge has arrived in arranged close to said revoluble a'ollen and adapted to engngev the ;articles passing over said revoluble roller and; to bend-v-thei trails ing edge away fron'i the stack when the leading edge has arrived in position, :meansifor convweying the articles 1 between saidh. Eroller and'guide'to the stack, and means-for'releasing said movable guide when the leading edge of. the article arrives inposition vso that thotrailingedge springs into position againstthe preceding article owing to'the luble roller and adapted to engage the articles passing over said revoluble roller and to bend the trailing edge away from the stack when the leading edge has arrived in position, means for conveying the articles between said roller and guide to the stack and means for turning said movable guide about its pivot when the leading edge of the article arrives in position, so that the trailing edge is released and springs into position against the preceding article owing to the tension produced by the bending.

8. Apparatus for arranging in a stack flat flexible articles continuously delivered by a feeding apparatus comprising a table on which the articles are stacked, a plurality of spaced revoluble rollers, arranged in proximity to the stack over which the articles are conveyed in succession, a movable guide arranged close to said revoluble roller and adapted to engage the articles passing over said revoluble roller and to bend the trailing edge away from the stack when the leading edge has arrivedin position, swingable conveyor hooks arranged in the spaces between said revoluble rollers for conveying the articles between said roller and guide to the stack, means for engaging said conveyor hooks with and'disengaging them from the articles, and means for releasing said movable guide from engagement with the trailing edge of the article when the leading edge arrives in position, so that the trailing edge springs into position against the preceding article owing to the tension produced by the bending. r

9. Apparatus for arranging in a stack flat flexible articles continuously delivered by a feeding apparatus comprising a table on which the articles are stacked, a revoluble roller arranged in proximity to the stack over which the articles are conveyed in succession; means for rotating said roller, means attached to said roller for pressing'the stack away from the surface of the roller as it rotates, a movable guide having an edge which abuts against the stack and holds it away from the roller and a curved surface arranged close to said revoluble roller and adapted to engage the articles passing over said revoluble roller and to bend the trailing edge away from the stack when the leading edge has arrived in position, means for conveying the articles between said roller and guide to the stack, and means for releasing said movable guide when the leading edge of the article arrives in positionyso that the trailing edge springs into position against the preceding article owing to the tension produced by'the bending.

10. Apparatus for arranging in a stack fiat flexible articles continuously delivered by a feeding apparatus comprising a table on which the articles are stacked, means for raising and lowering the end of the table ad- 'jacent to the feeding apparatus, guiding means arranged in proximity to said table through which the articles are conveyed in succession and which are adapted to be in engagement with the trailing edge of the article and bend it away from the stack when the leading edge arrives in position, means for conveying the articles through 'said guiding means to the stack, and means for releasing said guiding means from engagement with the article when the leading edge arrives in position, so that the trailing edge springs into position against the preceding article in the stack owing to the tension produced by the bending.

11. Apparatus for arranging in a stack flat flexible articles continuously delivered by a feeding apparatus comprising a table on which the articles are stacked, means for rais ing and lowering the end of the table adjacent to the feeding apparatus, guiding means arranged in proximity to said table through which the articles are conveyed in succession and which areadapted to be in engagement withthe trailing edge of the article and bend it away from the stack when the leading edge arrives in position, means for conveying the articles through said guiding means to the stack, and means for releasing said guiding means from engagement with the article when the leading edge arrives in position, so that the trailing edge springs into position against thepreceding article in the stack owing to the tension produced by the bending means for returning said guide into position to guide the next article, and means for moving the table a small distance after each article has been stacked on it.

12. Apparatus for arranging in a stack flat flexible articles continuously delivered by a feeding apparatus comprising a movable table on which the articles are stacked, a revoluble roller comprising a plurality of spaced roller portions arranged in proximity to the stack over which the articles are conveyed in succession, means for rotating said roller, a movable guide pivoted above the stack'having an edge which abuts against the stack and holds it away from the roller and a curved surface arranged close to said revoluble roller and adapted to engage the articles passing over said revoluble roller and to bend the trailing edge away from the stack when the leading edge has arrived in position, movable conveyor hooks pivoted in the space between said roller portions for conveying the articles between said roller and guide to the stack means for extending said hooks beyond the surface of the roller to engage the articles, means for retracting said hooks when the article arrives in position, means for turning said movable guide about its pivot when the leading edge of the article arrives in position, so that the trailing edge is released and springs into position against the preceding article owing to the tension produced by the bending and means for returning said guide into position to receive the next article.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures. v

ALFRED WINKLER. MAX DU'NNEBIER. 

